Art of manufacturing tile



M. $COTT.

ART OF MANUFACTURING TILEL v Patented May 12, 1891;

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MONTEZUMA SCOTT, OF NEWV BRIGHTON, PENNSYLVANIA.

ART OF MANUFACTURING TILE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 452,113, dated May 12, 1891.

Application filed October 15, 1887. Serial No. 252,423. (No model) thereof.

being dried or burned.

Heretofore in the manufacture of tile and brick from clay it has been necessary to limit the size of the same owing to the fact that large masses of clay will warp or crack while This is due to unequal contraction or expansion of the mass, the outer portion being dried or burned be fore the inner portion is affected; nor is it possible to obviate this by making the tile large in surface without increasing the thickness accordingly as the strength of the mass is reduced thereby so that it will not withstand the contracting or expanding influences of the heat or the evaporation of the moisture from the clay.

The object of my invention is to enable the manufacture of large slabs or blocks of burned or dried clay to be eiiectually and successfully accomplished without loss from cracking and Warping; and it consists in forming cavities in one surface of the clay when it is molded, so that the heat may penetrate to the interior of the mass at the same timeit strikes the surface, and yet sufficient thickness is retained to aiford the requisite strength.

I will now describe my invention so that others skilled in the art to which it appertains may employ the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming part of this specification, in which-- Figure l is a plan view of the upper side of the tile. Fig. 2 is a plan View of the under side of a slab or tile, showing the cavities; and Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional View on the line at a; of Fig. 2.

Like letters of reference indicate like parts wherever they occur.

In the drawings, A represents a slab of clay flat and smooth on its upper surface, while on the other or under surface are numerous cavities at extending throughout the face of the slab. These cavities should extend nearly through the slab, the depth being as great as possible without impairing the strength required, and they may be formed by suitable projections on the face or bottom of the mold in which the slab is molded. After the slab has been formed and removed from the mold it is subjected to the usual drying and burning in the ordinary manner, durin g which the cavities enable the slab to be dried or burned evenly throughout, and thereby the danger of warping and cracking is avoided.

Although I have mentioned and described one face ofthe slab as being smooth and flat, it is only in contradistinction to the other side, which is provided with the cavities, as the upper surface may be ornamented by figures or patterns in relief in the mold in the usual manner adopted in the manufacture of ornamental tile.

The advantages of my improvement are that it enables large slabs of clay to be easily and successfully burned and dried, which I do not desire to limit myself to any particular form or size of cavity; nor do I desire to limit myself to any particular kind or variety of clay, nor to any one method of molding or forming the slab or tile, as it may be applied to any of the known methods of forming tile of clay or'like material-Whether by molding the clay in a plastic state or by pressing the clay when dry.

I am aware that in the manufacture of bricks formed of clay cavities or recesses have been formed in the brick for the purpose of making the brick lighter without materially decreasing its strength, and I do not desire to claim the same.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Pat cut, is

An improvement in the art of the manufacture of tile, consisting in molding or forming clay into suitably-shaped flat slabs or tile with one surface continuous and. unbroken In testimony whereof I have hereunto set and the other surface filled with contiguous my hand this 8th day of October, A. D. 1887. 10 cavities extending nearly through the body of the tile or slab, and then subjecting the MONTE'JUMA SCOT'J. 5 slab or tile t0 the necessary heat for induration, \vhere'by warping and cracking of the \Vitnesscs: tile are prevented, substantially as and for the THOS. BRADFORD, purpose specified. A. G. MCCREARY. 

